dry season; period of water shortage
Refers to a season or period when water is scarce, such as a dry season in a climate or a time of low water supply.
In this region, river water decreases during the dry season.
渇水期に備えて、ダムに水を貯めています。
We are storing water in the dam in preparation for the dry season.
Compound of 渇水 (kassui, 'water shortage') + 期 (ki, 'period'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the components are transparent.